Apr 19 2010
The planquadrat office of architects Herbert Elfers, Martin Geskes and Jörg Krämer is to become a new network member in Bayer MaterialScience's EcoCommercial Building program. The two parties recently signed an agreement to this effect. It is the first time that an architectural practice has committed itself to the global Premium program for energy-efficient and economic building that Bayer MaterialScience has developed for the planning and construction of commercial, industrial and office buildings, and operates jointly with its partners.
"We are entirely convinced by the economic and ecological benefits of the program, and its holistic approach. The new partnership will enable us to contribute our experience in the field of architecture and project planning, and to make many new and promising contacts in the industry," said Martin Geskes, one of the co-owners of planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer.
For 16 years, the architectural practice with its interdisciplinary team of around 60 employees is operating in the fields of architecture, urban planning and project development. It is focused on residential construction, the planning of industrial and commercial buildings, office and administration buildings, as well as of hotels, schools and other buildings for special use. "Particularly in the construction industry, the topic of sustainability plays a very important role internationally. With the new cooperation, we have once again underlined our commitment to the planning of ecological building projects," continued Geskes. The firm has already won a number of architectural awards.
"We welcome the architectural practice planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer as a new partner in our EcoCommercial Building program. As a result, we can extend our expertise network in Europe and, at the same time, provide an even further improved consulting service to the decision-makers in the construction industry," said Dr. Thomas Braig, who is head of the program at Bayer MaterialScience for the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) region.
The aim of the EcoCommercial Building program is to provide these decision-makers with energy-optimized, sustainable building solutions and tailor-made products, based on the technical expertise of Bayer MaterialScience and its partners. Because of the energy and cost savings made possible by EcoCommercial Building, the investment will very probably pay for itself quickly.
In addition to its head office in Darmstadt, the architectural practice planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer has been involved for many years in Dubai, where it has carried out a number of projects. Among the buildings that have since been completed are the Rostamani Tower on the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Business Bay Hotel near the Burj Khalifa and an office complex in the Dubai Internet City.
Bayer MaterialScience only recently signed an agreement on a strategic partnership for sustainable building with the Masdar company in Abu Dhabi. Under this agreement, Bayer MaterialScience will erect an EcoCommercial Building prototype in Masdar City, which will serve as a model for energy-efficient and economical building in this region. The special focus here will be on taking account of the local subtropical climate. "The new partnership with the architectural practice planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer is a logical and worthwhile step with regard to the building activities in the Middle East too," added Braig.